Filing card



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,716

W. M. HIND FILING CARD Filed May 19, 1925 flBCDEFGHIJK fl 7 anuentoz /6 97. M,

Patented Dec. 13, 1927. p

' UNITED STATES 1,652,716 PATENT OFFICE.

MABSIDEN KIND, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO MARY PARKER SMITH, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

FILING CARD.

Application filed May 19,

This invention relates to filing cards for use in card index systems, particularly in systems in which cards are filed in various compartments of a container according to one classification, and are placed in various positions within a given compartment according to another classification. In the applications Ser. Nos. 403,906 and 407,372 filed August 16, 1920 and Sept. 1, 1920, respectively by Rittenhouse M. Smith, there is disclosed such a filing system in which the index cards or filing units are supported on a grid, each card being provided with a rigid finger secured to the side edge and projecting below the bottom edge of the card. This projection is placed in one of the slots of the gridand forms a means of positioning the card crosswise of the grid.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an improved filing card, particularly adapted to be used in systems of the kind referred to, to provide a card which can be readily placed in an ordinary ty ewriter and to provide improved means or securing the rigid index finger to the card. Other purposes and objects will be apparent from the annexed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a filing unit constructed according to one form of my invention in position on the grid referred to;

Fig. 2 shows a modified form of file card; Fig. 3 is a separate view of an index finger; and

Fig. at is an enlarged sectional view on the line 4et of Figure 1. V

In Figure 1, 10 represents a filing cabinet or box having grid bars 11 disposed at a substantial distance above the bottom for purposes more fully set out in the applications referred to above. A partition or di viding member 12 extends across the grid and is provided along its upper edge with suitable reference characters such as A B C D etc.

The filing unit or data card 13 is of elastic or flexible material, that is, material of sufficient stiffness to stand alone, yet of sufiicient flexibility to allow bending, so that it may be used in the usual form of typewriter. Thin cardboard such as is customarily used for file cards is suitable for this purpose. A loop 14 is secured to the card by any suitable means, such as adhesive material. The

ends of the loop are preferably secured to 1923. Serial No. 640,121.

opposite sides along one edge of the card as in Figures 1 and 4 but the loop may be attached at any suitable place desired, as loop 1 1 in Figure 2. The loop is of soft, pliable material, that is material which will. not retain its shape or stand alone, such as textile fabric. The loop constitutes means for supporting a rigid index finger or pin, and the pliability of the loop material permits the card to be used in the ordinary typewriter when the index pin is removed.

In order to retain the card under any desired heading on the dividing member 12, I provide the rigid index finger 15, preferably of metal, celluloid, or similar material. This finger is adapted to slide into the loop and has a narrowed portion 16 which projects below the bottom of the card and extends between the grid bars. The shoulder 17 provents the finger from slipping down between the bars. The other end of the finger is formed into an enlarged head which projects above the top edge of the card, and is provided with an index 18 which cooperates with the characters on the member 12. Shoulders 19 at the lower part of the head prevent the finger fromdropping out of the loop when the card is lifted out of the cabinet.

In use the card is first placed in a typewriter and the desired data written thereon. The finger is then slipped into the loop and the card placed in the filing cabinet with the index 18 under the desired character and the projection 16 in the corresponding slot of the grid. When the card has served its purpose, the finger may be removed and the card thrown away.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details shown by way of illustration, but includes modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a filing device in combination, a flexible file card having a loop of pliable material secured thereto which does not prevent placing the card in the usual typewriting machine, said loop extending substantially throughout the height of the card, and a rigid index finger removably held by the loop, said finger projecting beyond the top and bottom edges of the card to provide both a positioning means and an index.

2. In a filing, device in combination, a flexible file card having a loop of pliable material secured thereto which does not prevent placing the card in the usual typewriting machine, said loop extending substantially throughout the height of the card, and arigid index finger disposed in the loop, said finger extending beyond the top and bottom edges of the card to provide both a positioning means and an index and having an enlarged upper portion adapted to prevent the finger from dropping out of the loop when the card is in vertical'position.

3. In a filing device in combination, a

flexible file card having a loop of pliable material secured thereto which does not prevent plaoing the card in theusual typewriting machine, said loop extending substantially throughout the height of the card, and a rigid index finger disposed in the loop, said finger having a narrowed portion extending below/the card to provide a positioning means and aportion extending above the card to provide an index.

In testimony WhereofI hereunto aifix my signature.

\VILLIAM MARSDEN HIND. 

